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Littering on Oscawana Lake Road Leads to Drug and Forgery Charges
The Putnam County Sheriff reported that a Mohegan Lake man is facing drug and forgery charges after a deputy sheriff stopped a car in which the man was riding for a littering violation. Mr. Blaise J. Santella, aged 20, of Mohegan Lake, was arrested by Sheriff's Deputies on January 21, 2007 and charged with possessing marijuana and having a forged driver license.
According to the Sheriff's Department, at about 2am on Sunday, January 21st, Deputy William Quick pulled over a Chevrolet Trail Blazer on Oscawana Lake Road in the Town of Putnam Valley after he saw someone in the car throw litter out a window. When the deputy approached the car, which was occupied by the driver and two passengers, he smelled the odor of marijuana wafting out of the passenger compartment.
After further investigation, the deputy found one of the passengers, Mr. Santella, in possession of a quantity of marijuana. When the deputy obtained and checked Santella's identification documents, he noticed that the defendant had altered the date of birth printed on his driver license, making it appear he was over, rather than under, the age of 21 years.
Mr. Santella was charged with Unlawful Possession of Marijuana, a violation, and Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Third Degree, a class A misdemeanor. The violation is punishable by up to fifteen days in jail and a $250 fine; the misdemeanor by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Deputy Quick also issued the driver of the vehicle a traffic ticket for littering on the highway. Mr. Santella was booked at the Sheriff Department's substation in Putnam Valley and released with an appearance ticket returnable in the Putnam Valley Justice Court on January 30th.
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